The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it has yet to take a formal decision on issues surrounding the deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 election by political parties following recent Federal High Court judgments affecting its guidelines for party primaries.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, in a telephone interview with Sunday PUNCH, said the commission had not met to consider the implications of the court decisions and their effect on the outcome of party primaries.

Haruna spoke in response to questions on the commission’s position regarding compliance with the original deadline for the submission of candidates’ names.

According to him, the commission’s immediate position is to comply with the court judgments while pursuing an appeal against the decisions.

“Before the Sallah break, we hadn’t had any meeting on this issue. Since there is a judgment already, we have to obey that judgment. We have appealed and that is our position right now. Work resumes on Monday and I am sure as soon as possible, we will hold a meeting.

“INEC is yet to meet to consider the outcome of the primaries,” Haruna said.

The commission’s position comes amid uncertainty generated by recent judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified aspects of INEC’s guidelines relating to the conduct and monitoring of political party primaries.

Justice Umar Mohammed had held that INEC could not impose conditions on the conduct of party primaries beyond those expressly provided by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the constitutions of political parties.

The court ruled that certain provisions of the commission’s guidelines, particularly the deadline for the submission of candidates by political parties, exceeded its statutory powers.

But in a separate judgment, Justice James Omotosho affirmed INEC’s power to issue and amend election timetables as it deems fit, provided such actions remain within the confines of the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.

The decisions raised questions about the validity of aspects of the primary election process and the implementation of timelines contained in the commission’s regulations.

INEC has, however, approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside Justice Umar Mohammed’s ruling. (Sunday PUNCH)

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